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Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Bangladesh-US : Towards new engagements

Delwar Hossain

The third round of the 2014
Bangladesh US security dialogue was held in Dhaka on 22 April. It focused on
issues such as peacekeeping, counter‐terrorism,
disaster‐management, maritime security and regional security.

The security dialogue is part of a larger dialogue process that encompasses
defence‐to‐defense dialogue; military‐to‐military dialogue; security dialogue; and partnership
dialogue between Dhaka and Washington. This security dialogue has been taking
place annually since 2012. The first two‐day
meeting to bolster bilateral and regional cooperation between the two countries
under the Joint Declaration of the Bangladesh‐US
Partnership Dialogue took place in Washington, in September 2012. On the
economic front, the first meeting of Trade and

Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA) between Bangladesh and the US
was held in April 2014. The TICFA seeks to further bolster the annual bilateral
trade – that exceeded $6 billion in 2013 – between the Dhaka and Washington.

Amid conflicting positions of Bangladesh and the US over several domestic,
bilateral and global issues, one may interpret these meetings as puzzling
developments. In the post‐election period, at the bilateral level, both the countries
have continued with old discords on issues such as labour rights, the Yunus
factor, the duty‐free, quota‐free market access, and the
suspension of Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) facilities to Bangladesh,
among others. From a Bangladeshi perspective, the US’ stance on domestic
political changes in the former is a major irritant to smooth bilateral
relations. The US’ insistence on holding credible and inclusive general
elections in Bangladesh afresh – after the January 2014 elections – has created
a diplomatic challenge for the incumbent Sheikh Hasina government. Globally,
the Kosovo and the Crimea questions clearly demonstrate Bangladesh’s different
foreign policy priorities.

However, despite the continuing discord, Bangladesh and the US have remained
engaged – as demonstrated via the dialogue process and the maiden meeting of
TICFA. A strong view prevails in the policy community that these meetings will
put US–Bangladesh relations on the path to recovery. Unlike in the past, the US
has made it clear that preventing the spread of global terrorism and strategic
understanding are its foremost agendas vis‐à‐vis Bangladesh. Both countries have developed three
structured fora for mutual engagement. They are: the US‐Bangladesh Dialogue on Security Issues; the Bangladesh‐US Partnership Dialogue; and the US–Bangladesh TICFA. The US
recognises that Bangladesh has a vital role in ensuring security and stability
regionally and globally. As the head of the US delegation to the Security
Dialogue, Tom Kelly, observed, “A strong bilateral partnership and improved
defense ties between Bangladesh and the United States are in both of our
interests.... In a broader perspective US values Bangladesh's geographical
location. It sees an important role for Bangladesh in the overall security
context of the Middle East, and Indian‐Pacific‐Oceans region. This is why US wants Bangladesh by its side
in its strategic pursuits.”

Thus, for the US, geostrategic developments in the South Asian and the Asia
Pacific regions have accorded Bangladesh a degree of importance. This is also
linked to the shift of the 2010 US defence strategy, that the US cannot go
solo, and in its attempt to address primary

security issues, countries like Bangladesh matter.

Interestingly, Bangladesh appeared to be shy of expressing much optimism and
enthusiasm, specifically regarding the outcomes of the meetings, and on
bilateral ties in general. The head of the Bangladesh delegation mentioned that
the dialogue was “very fruitful” and appreciated the US for the
institutionalisation of the process of talks for intensive bilateral
cooperation. The apparent lack of buoyant attitude on Bangladesh’s part
reflects frustration about the US for its continuing emphasis on holding fresh
elections in Bangladesh. It is also a reflection of Washington’s denial of the
GSP facilities and duty free‐quota free access.

However, in reality Bangladesh shows a degree of pragmatism while dealing with
the US in the current context. The benefits of Bangladesh‐US bilateral ties – from trade to investment, and from
culture to development – are substantive for both the nations. Although the
rules of engagement for Dhaka and Washington have been crafted in a new
regional environment in South Asia, the issue of the security dialogue may
generate disquiet among regional powers such as China and India. Simultaneously,
the US may also find it little troubling when Bangladesh joined the naval
exercise with China along with India and Pakistan. In April 2014, ships from
Bangladesh, Pakistan and India reached the Chinese port of Qingdao to partake
in a rare naval exercise

On the Sino‐Bangladesh naval cooperation, Tom Kelly asserts that the US
fully respects Bangladesh's sovereign right to establish cooperation with any
other country. Similarly, the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh,

Pankaj Saran, maintains that “It is up to you [Bangladesh] to choose a
strategic partner. India has nothing to say in the matter.”

The first TICFA meeting may vindicate the critics that the US would use the
platform to create a new regime for protecting its economic interests in
Bangladesh, thereby undermining the latter’s development needs. Bangladesh’s
opposition to form a women’s economic empowerment committee and a labour
affairs committee in the first Meeting is an example. The TICFA and/or the
Security Dialogue may open new avenues of bilateral talks, but Dhaka and
Washington need to deal with major issues of mutual discord. Under the
Westphalian order, attempts to use domestic politics as a diplomatic instrument
may undermine gains of bilateral cooperation between the two.